The comments by Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko appear to contradict assurances from the International Olympic Committee last week that no athlete attending the games would be targeted by the law.

"The law talks not about banning a non-traditional orientation but about other things, about propaganda and implicating minors," Mutko told the R-Sport news agency.

"No one is banning a sportsman with a non-traditional sexual orientation from going to Sochi. But if he goes out onto the street and starts to make propaganda, then of course he will be brought to responsibility.

"As a sportsman, he should respect the law of a country," Mutko added. "Come (to Sochi), but don't get young people involved, don't make propaganda. This is what we are talking about."

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The message is so painfully clear. Gays will not be safe at the 2014 Olympics. Bullsh*t alleged assurances to the International Olympic Committee are worthless, and frankly, so are the IOC's promises of "protection."

The Russian government isn't concerned with how they're perceived by rest of the world.

Being gay is seen as gay propaganda in Russia. That means that no, you can't be gay in Russia. The law may not go after gay people, but Russian people can, and will, and the law will not step in because "it's normal to be attacked if your gay in Russia"